Enugu to promote art
June 9, 2008
Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State expressed his administration’s readiness to promote artwork in the State.
The governor, who was speaking through his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, when the managing director of Rocana Advertising Agency, Mr. Robert Oji, and the director of Alliance Francaise, Enugu, , Mr. Gerald Chouin, paid a courtesy visit to the Government House, Enugu, said that the government was looking into how to discover and develop the potentials of youths in the state.
He commended the bold steps taken by Rocana and Alliance Francaise in art development in the country through organizing art competition among youths.
The governor described the stay of the director of Alliance Francaise in Enugu State as eventful that has led to many people becoming bi-lingual.
He assured the board members of the state government’s readiness to partner with them to move the competition, “Live in my City” to the next level.
Ealier in a speech, Mr. Oji informed the governor that about N11.5 million has been budgeted for the 2008, ‘Life is my City Art,” competition, sponsored by Rocana Advertising Agency and the French cultural centre, Alliance Francaise, all based in Enugu.
Mr. Oji said that the money would be spent on administrative activities and prizes to the winners of the competition.
According to Mr. Oji, the first prize in the competition will attract N500,000, the second position, N300,000 while the third prize collects, N200,000. He added that there would be a consolation prize of N50,000 to twelve competitors.
The director disclosed that the preliminary stage of the competition would be held at Kaduna, Jos, Ibadan and Owerri while the final stage would be held at Enugu on 16th – 21st of June, 2008
He added that the competition was successfully conducted last year and that so many artists were attracted to Enugu State.
Mr. Oji noted that it was because of the passion he has for artwork, he collaborated with Alliance Francaise to organize the art competition among youths in Nigeria.
He said that through the art competition, youths could be engaged in activities which could enable them develop their potentials.
According to him, “the competition will attract so many competitors to Enugu State as over 400 artists have registered to participate in the competition.”
The director pointed out that through artwork communication, youths could translate what is happening now to future
In his remarks, the director, Alliance Francaise in Enugu State, Mr. Gerald Chouin said that the competition was organized to discover potential artists in the country.
The French director described Enugu State as a cradle of art in Africa where energy, passion and talents for artwork abound.
He said that the competition being organized in Enugu State would enhance the status of the state internationally, as competitors would come from far and wide.
Mr. Chouin noted that the Enugu State Government is carrying out various projects to attract investors in the state, adding that art development would also attract investors.
In a speech, a member of the board, Mr. Kelvin Ejiofor, appealed to the state government to assist the board in organizing the art competition in the state.
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